SOFT PRICKLY SHIELD FERN. 



SOFT PRICKLY SHIELD FERN. 



ASPIDIUM ACULEATUM. 



//~ 

 WILDENOW'S FERN. 



\Swarte, Smith, Hooker, Bentham, Arnott.] 

 (Fig. l.) 



SYNONYMS. 



POLYSTICHUM ACULEATUM. Babington, Moore, New- 

 mem, Roth, and others. 

 POLYPODIUH. Linnaeus. 



THIS species is almost evergreen in a sheltered 

 situation. It is a stout plant, having tufted fronds, 

 rising from a short thick stem or crown from one 

 to two feet high. Their form is lanceolate, twice 

 pinnate ; the texture harsh and rigid ; the upper sur- 

 face dark green and shining ; and the stalk or stipes, 

 below the leafy part, from one to six inches long, very 

 shaggy, with brown scarious scales. The veins are 

 alternately branched, and do not join together, but 

 extend free to the margin. There is nothing remark- 

 able in the fructification, which is generally abundant, 

 beyond the regularity of arrangement in the sori, 

 which lie in lines on each side of the mid- rib of the 

 upper leaflets. The root is large and woody. 



